The Catskill Park is a forest preserve in the mountainous region in
Southeastern New York State featuring public and private lands in
Ulster, Greene, Delaware and Sullivan Counties. Ninety-eight peaks over 3,000 feet high form an impressive skyline.
Its blend of public and private lands is similar to Adirondack Park to the
north.
The Catskill Forest Preserve is the state land within the Catskill Park. Since
its creation in 1885, it has grown from 34,000 to almost 300,000 acres.

The NY-NJ Trail Conference has a great Catskill Trails Map Set
that we recommend in planning your Catskill hiking adventure!

Hiking opportunities abound in the Catskill
Park. There are approximately 300 miles of marked, maintained hiking trails
on public Forest Preserve land. Stewardship and development of these trails
is shared by the New York State Forest Rangers and local chapters of hiking
clubs such as the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference and the Adirondack
Mountain Club. There are 35 Catskill peaks boasting heights greater than
3500 foot elevation, and people who hike to the summits of each of these peaks
earn membership in the Catskill 3500 Club.
You'll also find the
Catskill Mountain Club maintaining trails and doing
hiking events in the area.

Five Catskill peaks,
Hunter Mountain, Overlook Mountain,
Mount Tremper, Balsam Lake Mountain, and
Red Hill, have fire towers on their summits. These are
remnants of an era gone by. The Catskill Fire Tower Restoration Project
restored these towers, making them safe so that we can all enjoy the excellent views.
People hike these five fire towers as well as the many in the Adirondacks to
complete the Fire Tower Challenge.
There are a couple of other fire towers that you can explore that are located just
outside of Catskill Park at Rock Rift and
Mount Utsayantha.

Both primitive and amenity camping
opportunities abound in the Catskills. Primitive camping is allowed in the
Wilderness and Wild Forest areas of the Catskill Forest Preserve. Wilderness camping rules
include not camping within 150 feet of a trail, stream, or pond, and not above
3500 feet elevation except in winter. There are multiple primitive campsites
that are easy to walk to located around scenic Alder Lake.

Thirty two lean to shelters have
been constructed on several Catskill Forest Preserve trails. These are
available on a first come basis. The NY DEC maintains
seven state campgrounds in the Forest Preserve; North-South Lake, Devils
Tombstone, Kenneth Wilson, Woodland Valley, Mongaup Pond, Little Pond, and
Beaverkill. These campgrounds have tent and trailer sites, restroom
facilities, and other amenities varying by location. Numerous private
campgrounds are scattered throughout the Catskills.